If its a 4 person cage, youre more likely to have hour-long dives, rather than 45 minutes. Why Seth Rollins Should Host Shark Week in 2023 (Yes, Really), Shark Cages at Guadalupe Explained: Surface Vs Submersibles, Sea of Cortez Liveaboard Diving: Sharks, Costs and Months. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. While Horizon Charters may want to arm wrestle Islander for that title, theres no question that Islander Charters has been on many, many documentaries about white shark diving at Guadalupe Island. Shark diving is supposed to be fun and your time on the boat can be just as enjoyable as your time with the sharks. They (Martin, Captain Beto, Damian, Juan, Julio, Charlie, Jorge, Laurantina, and Adriana) ensure everything you need is taken care of immediately. Fantastic trip aboard the Explorer w/ Nautilus Expeditions! And with a maximum 14 guests on a boat this size, youve got plenty of room to spread your feet out. In a surface cage, youll generally have longer dives than in a submersible. No other ship in this part of the world boasts SOLAS certification (your guarantee of safety at sea), stabilization for an easier ride in open ocean, a mixed crew of men and women with decades of combined experience or all the little touches like a sparkling clear hot-tub, wide selection of micro-brew beer, fine wine, contemporary menu Guadalupe is definitely the best Great white shark cage diving. Its your home and its what makes or breaks your diving experience. You dont need to be Scuba-certified in a surface cage because youre breathing surface-supplied air (a Hookah system). It was custom designed and built specifically for this kind of work and we keep it in tip top shape. Youre at Guadalupe to see great white sharks. Thank you for making this a trip of a life time with memories I will cherish forever! In addition, some boats have special guests, like Joe Romeiro, Paul Van Gelder and other Shark Week regulars. Check out the itineraries of each boat in this article and dont be afraid to reach out and ask them about specifics. Sincerely,RachelFor more reviews and feedback on our trips please see https://nautilusliveaboards.com/go/ratings. And at a starting price of just $2,845USD and with plenty of happy customer testimonials, Nautilus Explorer is worth your serious consideration. We are glad we brought dive gloves to wear as the cages tend to sway in the swell so we found ourselves constantly holding on and they helped to keep our fingers warm. For folks who live by bigger is better, you found a keeper. Try Socorro Aggressor If: You value comfort and Aggressor quality and resources over dive time. Unfortunately, I did not have a good experience with the Nautilus company. One slight disadvantage with Solmar V youve got to rent the dive gear. Some boats are bigger or newer than others. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Look, I get it you saw 47 Meters Down and it turned your insides-out. Ask DiverDocFlorida about Nautilus Liveaboards, When things go wrong they have poor customer service, Ask Fitchmallon about Nautilus Liveaboards, Ask DrJessicaPierce about Nautilus Liveaboards. We believe that the best way to see these magnificent animals is to descend into their world and interact with them on their own terms in a natural way from our submersible cages. That being said, I feel that most first-time shark divers may find theyre best served by either Horizon Charters or MV Islander. For that, be sure to read the reviews of each boat mentioned here (other than Islander) at LiveAboard.com and pay close attention to what people say about each of these factors. This is what matters when you book your shark diving tour: Cage Size Are they 2-person cages, or designed for 4 people? Hint: Check the Rydr, Why Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Own Hiking, Hiking Clothes Explained: What to Wear On the Trails, Hiking Shoes: The Good, The Bad & Why You Need Em, 13 Best Waterproof Backpacks For 2021 Reviewed, Why the Vortex Diamondback 10X42 is Better Than the 10X50. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Its part of a fleet of three boats (Nautilus Expeditions) and has a price point that puts it within reach of most first-time shark divers. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Then again, with a boat like this, you cant say youre suffering, either. Unlike the other boats in the fleet, we arrive on station early so that you can have a nice relaxing dinner and a restful sleep in a still, calm and quiet anchorage. They did not do this either. There was always some sharks around and at some points as many as 7 at a time. The staff was incredible, fun, professional and paid attention to every detail. The first day of diving we arrived to San Benedicto later than most other boats so we couldnt dive the famous dive site The Boiler. The Guadalupe shark diving scene in general brings a high level of customer satisfaction. The bigger sharks generally arrive late September to early October. Julio and Jorge your food quality is pure magic, I have to admit coming from Alberta Canada. The rooms are nice, and more than adequate, but the focus is more about value, fun and, most importantly, maximizing your time with the sharks of Guadalupe. Damian especially, I give a shout out too. Well Chief Brody, if youre into Nautilus Expeditions. The rest is history. Some trips are longer. While that might not be everyones cup of tea, Socorro Aggressor is big and its modern. Our province is known for great steak, the steak you cooked was so tender and cooked to perfection in however way you wanted it. We held it in the office and reached out to collect payment for shipping. The dives are an hour each. Just returned home from an absolutely awesome trip to swim with Orcas and Mobulas in the Sea of If you want a safe hobby, try knitting. Crew Are they friendly, and do they go the extra mile to make your trip a great experience? Theyre a little smaller and more intimate than some of the other boats, and are a little easier on the wallet in the process. Its smaller, and you may find it a little more intimate. Not all boats have the latter. Safety You should speak with each boat about any safety concerns you may have. October and November features the enormous 18 foot dominant females affectionately known as big mommas. People look at me funny when I say that but you really do. I will never forget this experience, and I thank you for making sure it was as enjoyable as it could be. Flexible Booking Check the boats cancellation policy before you book. When Is the Best Time to See Great White Sharks at Guadalupe? We have identified 322 unique great white sharks in the bay where we stage our submersible cage diving operations which guarantees unforgettable encounters. Whichever Guadalupe live aboard dive boat that gets your attention, you may want to book sooner than later. As my title says, "Nautilus Liveaboards = Excellence". For example, will they replace your cameras memory chip while youre under water? Its no stretch to say they make your shark cage diving experience. I did my first Guadalupe dive back in 2007 and Im still raving about it. Trust me, that happens. Diving with great white sharks and going face-to-face with them at 30 feet is an unforgettable experience but also very different than most people imagine. The hostess would take your hot breakfast order while you are on deck and they made sure you were able to get a hot meal between dives. Try Nautilus Explorer If: You want to dive with white sharks at Guadalupe on a bigger boat and keep your costs in the $3,000 range. To see white sharks at Guadalupe, you commit at least 5 days of your life on a liveaboard dive boat, on which youll eat, sleep and breathe great white sharks with like-minded folks like you who are literally on the same journey. This is shark diving for celebrities, business executives and people who would prefer to pay for all the trappings and then some. If thats what you want, its worth a look. Go ahead and read my post on that topic if you want to know why. Try Nautilus Belle Amie If: You want to cage dive with great white sharks at Guadalupe Island on a large new boat and keep your costs in the $3000 USD range. Yup, youve got competition to see white sharks at Guadalupe Island in 2021. Guadalupe live aboard boats do cage diving with great white sharks at Guadalupe Island. Oh yeah, I, like, just totally went there! Then again, it depends what you want. Nautilus Belle Amie says each diver can expect about 15 dives per trip, however, so thats a good thing. If they made your vacation amazing, express yourself. Each Guadalupe live aboard dive boat brings something worth your attention. The staff on board are ridiculously friendly, and they are all passionate about sharing the sharks with you. My favorite shark was Andy. But going by that record, the shark diving boats at Guadalupe are good at mitigating that risk as much as possible. I'm sorry we did not meet your expectations. Heres another old-timer among Guadalupe live aboard dive boats. Vortex Viper Binoculars Vs Diamondbacks: Which is Better? You dont have to, but its good form. We were fortunate and we had 4-8 sharks on every dive for 2 out of 3 days. Recommended experiences in and around Ensenada, Nature & Wildlife Areas, Waterfalls, Canyons. Thats in part thanks to its location, about 260 miles south of San Diego and 220 miles from mainland Mexico. Thats not uncommon among Guadalupe live aboard dive boats, and that upper stern deck does look pretty wicked. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I would also pick a boat that leaves earlier (this boat leaves at 8pm) and one that puts Roca Partida at the beginning of the itinerary so that if weather is not favorable you have more time to play with and not miss any dives/days at that site. The Explorer was comfortable and great for diving (especially if you are an underwater photographer). Food An army marches on its stomach, and its the same on a boat. The trip was so amazing that it inspired be to create this website. So do your part. With that clarified, the Guadalupe live aboard boats have pretty much nailed the shark diving experience. Socorro Vortex is arguably the most luxurious of Guadalupe live aboard boats, and with an eye-catching 9.4/10 rating on LiveAboard.com, one of the highest-rated too. July and August features rowdy gangs of male sharks acting just like groups of teenage boys! Much of that can be attributed to Patric Douglas- the current CEO of Horizon Charters and one of the pioneers of cage diving at Guadalupe around 20 years ago. This is not the kind of company I would do business with on an expensive dive trip when other options exist. Everything ran smoothly from meeting in San diego to riding the bus to Ensenada to getting on the boat. I also contacted their office and spoke to the girl I booked it with, was told they would call me back and they never did.